Easy and Hassle-Free Residence Permit in Portugal

This is a type of residence permit that authorizes the holder to reside and work in Portugal. It gives the holder the same rights and conditions as Portuguese nationals and is considered to be a long-term document.

There are six basic ways to obtain long-term residence permits in Portugal. They include marriage, family reunification, study, work, investment or retirement and each has its own process. If the applicant lives outside the European Union, they will need to apply the right visa and once it’s accepted, they can apply for residency with the Portuguese government.

The permanent residence is typically the next step for people who have held a temporary residence permit for at least five years.

For non-EU nationals that intend to stay in Portugal for more than three months, the first step is obtaining a long-term residence visa that allows them to apply for a Portuguese residence permit.

The first document, which is a residence permit card, is granted for two years and can be renewed for a further three years. After five years, the resident cant then apply for the permanent residence permit card. It gives the applicant permission to permanently live in Portugal and is part of the process for applying for Portuguese Citizenship. 

All non-EU citizens applying for a Portuguese residence permit must show that they have  sufficient financial resources to fund their lifestyle as well as evidence of accommodation in Portugal. 

There are sometimes additional documents and requirements, depending on the reason given for requesting a Portuguese residence permit, and our Portuguese Immigration lawyers can help with this. After five years legally living in Portugal, the person with temporary residence can upgrade theri status by applying for permanent residence.

– The existing temporary residence permit holder gathers the necessary documentation after five years of residency in Portugal.

– The applicant attends an appointment with SEF, which is Portugal’s Border Service, to apply for the new Permanent Residency Permit. A decision is made within 90 days.

– After the permit is approved, the Portuguese Permanent Residency card is issued within 90 days.

As part of the Portugal’s residency program, the application for the permanent residence permit must be filed with the country’s borders and immigration agency. They must also meet the following criteria:

• Hold a temporary residence permit for at least five years
• Not been convicted of a crime punishable with a prison sentence of more than 1 year
• Evidence of sufficient financially means
• Proof of accommodation in Portugal;
• Proof of basic understanding of the Portuguese language. This is equivalent to A2 level